Boys to bring out the best in hegarty

RUGBY LEAGUE: Shannon Hegarty just can't wait to get back on the footy field.

The former Rabbitohs utility, who was released by his club off-season before being immediately picked up by the Cowboys, will do that tomorrow night when a North Queensland side takes on the STM Mackay Cutters in a trial at Leprechaun Park.

Part of the deal of playing with the Cowboys is you get to train under Billy Johnstone, known as one of the toughest trainers in the NRL.

“I've been training (with the Cowboys) for two and a half weeks now,” said Hegarty, a former Mackay Brothers player who spent four seasons with South Sydney.

“It took me a week or two to get up to scratch with fitness but I'm up to the mark now.

“The first week with Billy was hard and I'm starting to get used to it now, but you could say I'm keen to play football again.”

Hegarty said he was glad to be back in North Queensland, and to get the chance to play again at Brothers' Leprechaun Park, where his footy career started.

He played his debut NRL match in 1999 for the Roosters against North Queensland, and has represented Queensland three times in State of Origin and Australia in three Tests.

He said a link with Cowboys CEO Peter Parr and football manager Dean Lance kept his NRL career alive after being released by the Rabbitohs in January.

“I felt I needed a bit of a change and the opportunity came up,” he said.

“I knew Peter Parr and Dean Lance from when I was over in Perth.

“That was the first thing that came to mind, I think I wanted to be in Queensland again.”

On a one-year contract with the Cowboys, Hegarty said he intended to turn it into a long-term deal.

“I'll be looking to extend that for as long as I can,” he said.

“I've been given an opportunity here. The players are great, the staff is great, and the administration of this club is unbelievable.

“It's a strong club and there's no reason for me not to do my best.”

Tomorrow's match kicks off at 7pm, with a curtain-raiser between the rest of the Cutters squad and Souths A grade at 5pm.

Tickets are available only at the gate - $10 adults, youths 12 and over and pensioners $5 and children free.